How Much Does It Cost to Bulletproof a Car? - The Prepping Guide (2023)

The cost to bulletproof a car depends on several variables, such as the type of vehicle and the level of protection that you desire. The general cost can range from $40,000 upwards of $100,000.

In the state of the world, it’s no wonder that you might consider bulletproofing your vehicle. Home invasions, kidnapping, carjackings, and more are in the list of things that people may face in today’s world. Take a look in any newspaper and you can read of the happenings around the country. The United States has an alarming number of crimes each year.

Cars are a target in crimes, and you want to make sure that your vehicle isn’t a target. If you think about an SHTF situation, a bulletproof vehicle might save your life or the life of your family. So, you might wonder how much does it cost to bulletproof a car? Let’s take a look!

Bulletproofing a Vehicle

The cost varies considerably when you change the level of protection required and if you want to bulletproof the entire vehicle or just parts. Doing some of the bulletproofing yourself will save you money as well.

Windows

The windows are the most obvious part of a vehicle to bulletproof. If someone is to shoot at your car, the windows are the first target, the easiest to break, and harmful to your family. Aside from the bullets, flying broken glass is deadly.

You have to decide on the level of protection you want for your windows. The levels range from level 2 to level 8. The thickness of the bullet-resistant glass ranges is between .25 inches to 3-inches.

If you like DIY projects, you can line your car windows with polycarbonate to create a dense, yet transparent, window. If you really want to create a thicker window, use leaded glass on top of the polycarbonate to get the maximum amount of protection.

Another choice is to invest and use one-way resistant glass. Everyone knows this glass; it’s the same type of glass that we see used in police shows when the criminal punches the glass in the interrogation room, but it doesn’t break. One-way resistant glass prevents external forces from shattering, but you are able to shoot through it from the inside if you find the need. That’s why it’s called one-way glass.

The cheapest choice is to use tempered glass, but it is vulnerable to bullets. It is, at least, shatterproof, so you don’t have to worry about glass blasting into your face and harming your family. Tempered glass will protect you if you’re in a natural disaster with flying debris.

Depending on the type of vehicle and the level of protection you desire, the cost of bulletproofing glass costs between $25 to $100 per square foot.

If you want to have a professional install your bulletproof window, there is a huge range of costs. If you want the minimal amount of protection, you can expect the cost to be between $3,000 to $5,000. A higher level of protection will cost you between $15,000 to $20,000.

Tires

Bulletproofing your tires is one of the cheapest parts of your vehicle to bulletproof. By bulletproofing your tires, you can be sure that bullets and spike strips won’t stop your car from going. The tires are a favorite target because, without tires, you can’t escape or get away.

In fact, bulletproofing your tires might be the most logical first step to take. One thing to consider is that it’s impossible to make tires that everything bounces off of because they are made of rubber. The goal is to be sure that your car can continue to go even if a bullet happens to penetrate a tire.

One of the best choices is called a “run-flat tire.” These are custom-built and made of polymer with centers around the part that is attached to the centerline of the wheel. Polymer gives support, so if an inflated tire is punctured, it can still continue traveling at the same speed for 60 miles! You need the ability to keep moving away from the danger.

When considering the cost of bulletproofing tires, run-flat tires cost between $200 to $900 per tire. They are usually 35 to 200% more than average tires. So, the cost will depend on the vehicle that you have. For example, if you want to purchase run-flat tires on a truck that uses tires that cost an average of $200 each. You might expect to spend $350 or more per run-flat tire. Cost of Bulletproofing Tires: $800 to 3,600

Panels and Gas Tank

The panel must be protected from bullets. You risk your vehicle blowing up if your gas tank is penetrated. Your first decision is whether or not you want to protect all the panels around your vehicle or only certain panels.

Just like your windows, you have to decide what type of protection you want to put on your vehicle. Consider steel-plated armor which can install on the front and rear to help absorb as much of the impacts as possible. Kevlar and nylon is an even better choice, and it lets you protect the insides of your car.

Steel plates are heavy, and it will make your car heavier. You might have to add extra hinges to your vehicle doors to make them capable of holding the additional weight.

Let’s not forget the gas tank! It’s one of the easiest targets, and it’s quite dangerous. Bulletproofing the gas tank means applying the same plates that you used on the panels and the rest of your vehicle. Most importantly, you do want to invest in an anti-explosion tank so you don’t have to worry about your car turning into a fiery ball.

Depending on the style of panel you want, the prices range from $450 to $1,000 per panel. In fact, some of the really heavy-duty paneling can cost upwards of $1,500 per panel.

Getting a self-sealed gas tank or fortifying your gas tank can cost between $2,000 and $4,500. Once again, it depends on the gas tank selected and materials used. A professional install will cost more.

Engine

Your engine is vulnerable, and a bullet penetrating your engine spells a disaster for you. Placing bulletproofing protection on your engine could save your life. Also, by adding extra weight to your car, you have to make sure your vehicle is able to handle that additional weight. You will want to speak to a professional to figure out what engine changes are most advantageous for you.

In most cases, any engine alterations that will be done should be done by a professional unless you’re highly experienced. It takes around 2 to 3 days to install the changes, and it will need to be driven multiple times.

Depending on the type of protection you want, you can expect a bulletproof engine upgrade to cost between $5,500 and $11,000

Floor

Everyone has watched the movies when someone places a bomb or grenade underneath a car. You don’t want that to be your fate. Reinforced floors help to protect your car from explosives as well as from fire and other dangers you might encounter. A vehicle fragmentation, or bomb blanket, is made with heavy-duty nylon and a waterproof outer cover. They’re great to lay over your carpet in your vehicle or replace your carpet, or these blankets can be placed under the existing carpet.

Depending on the size of your vehicle, it might cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to lay down bulletproof vehicle floor protection.

Final Cost

The only way to get a definitive cost of bulletproofing your vehicle is to speak with a professional. The size of your car matters because everything is based on size. For example, a larger vehicle has large windows, so therefore, it will cost more to bulletproof the windows of a larger vehicle.

In general, the cost of bulletproofing your car can range from $16,000 upwards of $50,000 plus the cost of the actual vehicle. A bulletproof car is far from cheap. You can expect to spend around $75,000 to $100,000 in total.

Even if you go the DIY route, bulletproofing your car is expensive, and it’s far from easy. There will be parts of the project that you may not be able to do yourself, so investing in a professional installation will be necessary at some point. If you do most of the installation yourself, always talk to a mechanic beforehand to make sure you understand what is feasible for your vehicle.

Now is the time to decide what type of protection you want from your vehicle and your bullet. No matter the route you go – DIY or professional – expect to spend a good deal of money. That’s one of the reasons why there aren’t too many bulletproof vehicles driving around your town. However, if you have the cash, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that no one can stop you from leaving or going wherever you want, as well as surviving emergency scenarios.